The car wobbled as the bullets came into my car. "Fuck."

"C-Creed, ang anak natin." I saw a woman in the passenger's seat, caressing her tummy while crying in pain.

I reached the glove compartment. Kinapa ko ang aking baril ngunit wala akong nahawakan doon. "Calm down, we'll-"

"Creed!" She shouted before my eyes got blinded by the light coming from a truck.

My grip on the railings tightened as I looked at the night sky. Mariin akong napapikit. Iyon ang kaisa-isang naaalala ko bago ako mawalan ng memorya. That was the first thing that I remember weeks after I stopped taking the prescribed medicine of my doctor. Ilang linggo na ang nakaraan ngunit hindi na ulit iyon nasundan.

The woman in my memory's my secretary and I just woke up one day and she's already my girlfriend but I can't feel anything for her. I need her, we have a child and I need to know where my child is.

"Babe, you okay?" Sela asked while I just nodded because I can already feel my head spinning.

"You wanna go outside?" She asked again.

Mariin akong napapikit bago tuluyang tumango. "Yeah."

That was the last thing I remember before I woke up with throbbing head. I opened my eyes but I see nothing but darkness. I tried to move my hands but I can't, that's when I realized something.

"Are you the Universe of Cosmos?" A voice asked but I didn't answer. Napangisi ako sa naisip. One of the desperates again.

"Hindi ka sasagot? Tinatanong kita!" Galit na sambit nito ngunit pinanatili ko lamang ang malamig na ekspresyon. Naramdaman ko ang Biglang paghila ng kung sino sa aking kuwelyo. Bahagya akong napangisi kaya naman agad kong naramdaman ang kamaong tumama sa aking pisngi.

Nagigting ang aking panga nang marinig ko ang mga ito na nagkakagulo at doon na ako napangisi. I felt someone untying my hands. Nang maalis ang pagkakatali ng aking mga kamay ay agad kong tinanggap ang telang tumatakip sa aking mga mata.

"Babe, a-are you hurt? I-" Agad na nagtama ang aming tingin.

"I have a meeting, let's talk later." I muttered as I entered my office. She's with me the last time that Amherst got me and they knew that she's my girlfriend but they didn't even touch her. Pinalagpas ko iyon at tinanggap ang paliwanag ni Sela sa kung anong nangyari noong gabing iyon.

Mirae frowned. "I told you, Sela's name is Cerys. Your secretary's Cerys, not Sela.

Napakunot ang aking noo sa sinabi ni Mirae. I believed her, she won't lie to me. There's something wrong, I know there is but I need to know where my child is.

"Daddy!" I saw my Daughter, Crizzette approaching. "Mommy Mirae's already here. We'll go ahead! Bye, Daddy!" She kissed my cheek as she smiled widely.

"Alright, take care." She waved her hands as she disappeared in my sight.

Crizzette's my daughter but not with Sela. I got them a DNA test without Sela knowing and it turns out negative.

"Come on, Sela. Can't you fix your dress alone?" Kunot noong sambit ko sa kanya. We're having our dinner then she suddenly announced that she felt that the back button of her dress was removed.

"Hindi ko nga abot, Babe naman." She pulled me towards the ladies room. Hindi na ako umangal at sinamahan na siya.

She locked the door after we entered. Agad siyang tumalikod sa akin at sinalikop ang buhok. I saw the middle button of her dress and I immediately fixed it.

"There," I muttered.

She turned to me as she encircled her hands on my neck. Akmang hahalikan niya ako ngunit agad akong nakaiwas at inilayo siya sa akin. "Let's go home." I held the door knob and was about to open the door when Cerys spoke.

"Why are you being cold? H-hindi ka naman ganito noong nakaraan? You were even so sweet when we went to the site, 'yong kasama natin si Mirae?"

I felt the knob moved from the other side of the door, hudyat na may papasok dito ngunit hindi iyon bumukas.

I sighed as I slowly shook my head. "I'm just tired, not now, Sela. Shall we?" Hindi ko na siya hinintay na makasagot at agad na ipinulupot ang aking kamay sa kanyang baywang. I opened the door and I immediately met a familiar eyes.

"Ms. Amherst." Wala sa sariling sambit ko. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking kamay na nakapulupot sa baywang ni Cerys. Nahuli ko ang panliliit ng kanyang mga mata roon kaya naman naramdaman ko ang kusang pagluwag ng hawak ko kay Cerys.

"Babe," I heard Cerys calling me but I'm busy looking at Ms. Amherst. Her eyes looks so familiar that I can see it even if my eyes were close.

"Excuse me," Sambit niya bago kami tuluyang nilagpasan.

Mariin ako napapikit at muling nakita ang pamilyar niyang mga mata.

"I'll continue to love you till the next lifetime," I muttered as I leaned to kissed the woman's forehead.

"Huh? Hindi natin makikilala ang isa't isa sa susunod na habang buhay. Baka nakalimutan mo na 'ko sa panahon na 'yon."

"Even if my memory can't remember you, this..." I pointed my forefinger in my chest where my heart is located. "Won't forget you, this will always remember you. I promise you that."

"Babe, wake up!" Agad akong napabalikwas ako ng upo nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon.

I looked at Cerys, standing in front of my table. I looked around and realized that I fell asleep in the office.

I massaged the bridge of my nose as I cursed. "Fuck!" Why can't I see who that woman is? I can remember some things but why can't I clearly see the face of that woman? There's a possibility that she's Crizzette's mother but where the hell is she?

Some of my memory keeps on flashing back in my mind since I saw Lavinia Amherst. Bigla kong naalala ang mga mata niya. We're not even close so I don't know why her eyes looks so familiar when we met for the first time.

Ang alam ko lang ay siya ang papalit kay Armando sa pamamahala ng Amherst. Her parents are also my parents' friend, but I haven't met her before, though I wasn't sure. Bahagya akong napailing doon.

"I have a girlfriend." Wala sa sariling sambit ko. I can't understand Lavinia. She's talking about 'us' but that's impossible. She's an Amherst, imposibleng may relasyon kami kung iyon ang sinasabi niya.

"How about this." Lavinia Amherst caressed the part of my chest where my heart is located.

Hinuli ko ang kamay niya at marahan iyon inalis. "I can't remember you, Ms. Amherst," Mariing sambit ko at hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nakaramdam ng galit sa sarili nang makita ang sakit sa kanyang mga mata.

I saw her legs wobbled and she immediately held the edge of my table for support.

Kusa akong gumalaw upang maalalayan siya ngunit agad niyang tinaas ang kamay upang ako ay mapigilan.

"Let's take a break," Sambit ko kay Cerys matapos umalis ni Lavinia kasama si Cervantes.

"What are you talking about?" I saw tears on her eyes but I can't really feel anything.

"I don't think this will work."

Napailing ako sa sarili. Even Lavinia's presence seems familiar but I can't really remember her.

"You know what I want, I want you back." Determinadong sambit niya.

I should have been spending my time with Crizzy but Lavinia Amherst suddenly barged in my condo.

I sighed exasperatedly. "I have a girlfriend," I muttered even though I already broke up with Cerys.

"Break up with her then. Ang dali lang pinoproblema mo pa."

Nahihiwagaan akong napatingin sa kanya. Seriously?

"I love her," I answered but I didn't mean it and I saw her mouth fell open.

I saw pain in her eyes and I felt something urging me to take back what I've said but I didn't.

She opened her mouth but no words came out of it, instead, she smiled but I can see sadness in her eyes.

She nodded her head while still smiling. "Alright, ma-mauna na 'ko. I forgot that I still have a meeting." She stammered and I felt something tugging my heart while looking at her as she smiled.

Tinalikuran niya ako at akmang aalis na. Mariin akong napapikit bago tuluyang tinawag ang kanyang pangalan.

"Lavinia," I called but she didn't stop walking like she didn't hear me. Kaya naman muli akong nagsalita.

"Hey, I wanna taste you," I said.

Nakita kong natigilan si Lavinia ngunit hindi siya lumingon sa akin. What the hell did I just say? "Fuck," I cursed.

She turned to me with her cheeks burning red.

I cleared my throat. "I mean, I want to taste your Sinigang. Let's have a lunch. But if you still have a meeting you can...go," I muttered but in the inside, I'm hoping that she'll stay.

The way I want to protect her, the way I always care for her, the way I always feel everytime she's around makes me confused.

She stayed that day and when I saw her trembling when she received a threat, I already figured there's something wrong with me. Especially when I felt like I want to fucking kill whoever bastard did that to her car.

"If you don't want to drive me to my condo, pwede ka namang tumanggi." I frowned when I heard her.

"Stop the car," Lavinia ordered but I ignored it.

"Ihihinto mo o tatalon ako?!" Bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi niya.

Memory flashed back on my mind. "I said stop the car! I don't want anyone to know that I'm engaged to you!" The woman in my passenger's seat, wearing her uniform, shouted.

"Fuck! Ihihinto mo o tatalon ako?"

Mariin akong napapikit nang maputol ang memoryang iyon.

"We're done." I frowned at Cerys. Can't she understand?

"Babe naman." She clung her hands on my neck.

"Sela." Mariing pigil ko sa kanya.

I was caught off guard when she pulled me closer for a kiss. I unconsciously looked at the door of my office and I immediately met those familiar eyes. She turned her back as I pushed Cerys.

"Fuck! Get your things, you're fired!" Mariing sambit ko. I saw tears on her eyes but can't feel anything for her.

Agad akong dumiretso sa pinto ng aking opisina. The door opened and I saw my Mom. "Mama, where's Lavinia?"

I saw her confused eyes. "Hindi ba kayo nagkita? I saw her, kaaalis lang." She even pointed the lift.

There, I saw Lavinia Amherst. Nakatungo ito habang papasara na ang elevator. I run towards it and cursed when it finally closed.

I immediately run towards the stairs and when I finally reached the fifteenth floor before the ground, I realized something. Why am I running after her? Fuck, Creed! What the hell's your problem?

I went out of the restroom and I felt my jaw tightened because of what I saw. Adriel Cervantes kissing Lavinia's neck. I felt like the fucking world stopped.

Si Lavinia ang unang nakapansin sa akin.

I saw Cervantes stopped. "Why did you--" Agad na napalingon sa akin si Cervantes habang ipinulupot ang kamay sa baywang ni Lavinia.

"Ferron." He called and I just looked at him with cold eyes. If only I can wring his neck.

"I'm sorry if you have to see us in that situation." Something's urging me to punch this man but I have no rights. "It's just that, my girlfriend's thirsty." Lavinia's eyes widened. Bahagya pang hinampas ang dibdib ni Cervantes. "I mean...tipsy."

Malamig kong tinitigan ang lalaki bago walang salitang nilagpasan ang dalawa.

"Who's Lavinia Amherst?" I asked asI barged in Mirae's office.

Naguguluhan napabaling sa akin si Mirae at bahagyang napakunot ang noo. "What do you mean?"

"Tell me, before the accident, she's my what?" I asked though deep inside, I felt like I already knew the answer. I just want confirmation.

She sighed as she clasped her hands above the table. "How about Cerys?"

"I'm asking about Lavinia. Not Sela or whoever that woman is."

She rolled my eyes and I massaged my temples. I know Mirae, hindi tumitigil ang isang 'to hanggang hindi nakukuha ang gusto.

"What do you feel about Cerys first?" She raised her brow up on me.

"Nothing, alright? I feel nothing." I sighed in defeat and I saw her smirked. "Now tell me who's Lavinia? No, tell me everything about her." Fuck! Even her name seems so familiar the way I pronounce it.

"Lavinia is your..."

"What?"

"Excited much?" Mapanuyang sambit niya. Mariin ko siyang tinitigan at agad naman itong nagsalita.

"Alright, Lavinia's your girlfriend, I mean fiancee. She's pregnant with your daughter when you got into an accident with Cerys. Cerys is pregnant, we all thought Cerys' child is yours but recently, I found out that its Lance Puego's daughter. Your daughter with Lavinia's d-dead, the moment she gave birth."

Mirae's still talking but I can't hear her anymore. Memory keeps on flashing back in my mind. It started from the day that we got ambushed to the day I met Vinia. Napatukod ako sa lamesa ni Mirae at ilang ulit hinilot ang sentido dahil sa matinding pagsakit ng ulo. "Fuck!" Now I know why Vinia's eyes were familiar and everything that I'm feeling, there's nothing with it.

Walang salitang iniwanan ko si Mirae at dumiretso sa sasakyan.

I looked for my daughter and I found myself inside the Amherst's mausoleum. I stayed there for I don't know how long, I kept talking to her until I found tears on my cheeks.

"Did I cheat on Vinia?" I asked Archer.

Natigilan naman ito at kunot noong napabaling sa akin. "No. Alam naming lahat kung gaano ka karupok kay Vinia kaya imposible 'yang sinasabi mo."

Iniwasan kong mapangiwi sa sinabi nito. Then who the hell is Crizzette's mother? She's my daughter, I don't care about whoever her mother is. My point is, why did I cheat on Vinia. Why can't I remember?

"Crizzette's kidnapped." That two words are enough to bring back my sanity.

I went to our house to check my parents. Laking pasalamat ko ng wala kahit isang galos ang mga magulang ko. Wala ring kinuha sa bahay maliban sa anak ko.

I don't know where to start finding her, I just found myself in the middle of the city. An hour after Crizzy's kidnapped, Mommy called, saying Crizzette's kidnappers brought her back home.

"Hey, did you cry? What happened?" I immediately walked towards Vinia as I saw her with her swollen eyes.

She bit her lower lip as I saw tears on her eyes. Agad ko siyang dinaluhan. I pulled her closer as I encircled my arms around her. "What is it? Tell me, I'll listen," I whispered as I kissed the top of her head.

She looked at me. "Bring me to Crizzy, bring me to our daughter." Did she misses Crizzy?

I smiled as I repeatedly nodded my head. "I'll bring you to our daughter. Tell me why did you cry first?"

"Crizzy is our daughter." Of course she is. I'm glad Lavinia loves Crizzette.

"Yes, I don't care whoever her mother is, you're her mother and she's our daughter," I assured but she shook her head, tears rolled down her cheeks and I immediately wiped it.

"She's our daughter, Lolo planned it all. S-si Crizzette ang anak natin, pinalabas ni Lolo na patay na ang anak natin p-para-"

Natigilan ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Did I heard it right? Fuck, I did!

"How's Dark?" I shook my head on Dasher.

"It's been four years yet I still can't find her, fuck!"

"I can help, as well as Archer." Ilang segundo akong napatitig kay Dasher at sa huli ay napailing.

I heard him sighed. "I can imagine how furious Mirae is when the time comes that she'll found out the truth. That the Dark she knew isn't the original one and the real Dark's missing."

"That's why we need to find her as soon as possible."

"I wonder why can't we find her." I shifted on my seat as I looked at Dash. "There's a possibility that she changed her name."

He slowly nodded. "That's possible. What's her name again?"

"Dellany Mallari."

Bahagya siyang natigilan ay napatingin sa akin. "I remember Archer told me Dark has a white inked tattoo, a semicolon in the middle of the shaft of an arrow."

"Let me introduce for the first time, the newly weds, Mr. and Mrs. Ferron," The officiant announced.

I turned to Vinia with tears on her eyes. I wiped it and I leaned closer to give her a quick kiss as I pulled her. I encircled my arms around her and whispered. "Finally, my wife."

I can hear our friend's voices but I'm too focused on my wife.

I smiled at her. "I like the way you makes me feel. I love every bits of you. Your flaws and perfection makes me so inlove with you, Vinia." I slowly shook my head. "The word 'I love you' isn't enough to describe my feelings for you, its beyond love."

I smiled when I saw my wife smiling while looking up at the night sky.

From her back, I immediately encircled my arms around her. I felt her leaned on my chest. "Look at the sky." And I did.

"A night sky full of stars," I answered.

She faced me as she gently carressed my cheeks. "You're my night. Without you, Night..." She called me using my Cosmos codename. "I don't think I can move forward to another day."

I smiled at her as I kissed the top of her head. "You are the sunlight in my day and the moonlight in my night. You are my light in every night and day, remember that, Vinia."

__________

December 2020

Thank you for reading Taming the Night. I'll try to write and update all the remaining parts of Sunday Sunset before the second week of January. I'll update the Cosmos Series #3 Deceiving the Star probably April. Kapag tapos na sa draft.